Queensland Education Leadership Institute Ltd Blog

Four Corners ‘Revolution in the Classroom’ episode last week was a timely reminder of the value of investing in our people in the classroom. QELi was established as a direct result of this need to build the capability of current and future leaders in Queensland schools to improve student outcomes. Our Future Leaders commencing 3^rd April directly supports teachers moving into formal leadership position. We are currently offering a great incentive – 30 x $1000 scholarships toward this program – for teachers across all schooling sectors in Queensland. The program builds confidence through practical advice, skills and support to enable participants to become highly effective and influential leaders in their school. If you are a teacher in a school, this is your opportunity to step up to the next level of leadership – start your own education revolution!

As the excitement of Term 1 settles, QELi is looking forward to rolling out its full suite of programs in 2012 (Check out our 2012 Program Calendar). This includes some programs that have been a long time in the development phase and involve partnerships with some icons of education at a national and international level. A program that we’re particularly excited about on the 27 February is a true milestone for QELi – our first online program using bespoke technology – designed specifically for delivering QELi programs. Creating Superb School Leadership Teams is finally here – highly anticipated by the 50 leaders (including a participant from the UAE!)  - who have signed up for the program. This program is ground breaking, having been developed in partnership with Ruth Wageman (visiting Harvard scholar and Director at the Hay Group). We will be following some of the case studies of the leadership teams, and participants will have the chance to view and share their stories digitally following the program. Already, 22 places are sold for the second program to be offered September; so if you’re interested in participating with your school leadership team, you’ll need to secure your place soon.

I am delighted to announce that in June I will lead a tour of up to forty executive leaders to the prestigious UK National College to attend the National and International
Conferences, meet with global education leaders and explore the inner workings of the world’s foremost education leadership Institute.  Over the past 11 years, the UK National College has been at the forefront of global educational practice. Now is your chance to immerse yourself in the inner workings of this prestigious college, and secure your place in a global network of the best 21^st Century educational thinkers. Invitations will be delivered soon. The tour is part of a wider QELi strategy to support ‘the best of the best’ education leaders in Queensland and progress greater outcomes for schools and students. This will be a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience, so don’t just read about it – experience it!

The work of the Benevolent Society (Social Leadership Australia) around leadership in Australia across all industries and communities is cutting-edge and forcing organisations to think more broadly about how they can drive positive social change. QELi has partnered with SLA to develop our Good to Great Leadership program – designed specifically for Executive Leaders in education to develop a broader understanding of the social and community challenges that are part of education leadership. The program commences in May and places are limited. If you’re interested in participating, please contact
us on 07 3007 5222.

QELi has recently signed a ‘School Leaders Professional Development Partnership’ with QASSP (Queensland Association of State School Principals). The partnership is designed to enhance the leadership capabilities of key personnel within the State School system by providing greater access and concessions to QELi’s innovative, world-class leadership programs. This means that Queensland state school principals and their leadership teams will have greater support to manage schools and deliver education reform in 2012. The
endorsement of QASSP and all Principals Associations that we have been working
with in Queensland is important to us and reflects the quality of QELi’s program offerings. We thank them for their ongoing support and commitment.

QELi has been invited to develop and deliver the Leadership in Education Forum as part of the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) conference on the 26 April. ‘Leading Towards a Learning Society’ will be a fascinating, interactive session exploring the critical challenges of enabling 21^st century learning. The list of national and international speakers is impressive, and includes Ana Sepulveda, Program Manager Global Education, Cisco Systems, Chris Wardlaw, Deputy Secretary Victorian Department for Education and Early Childhood and Dr Yong Zhao Presidential Chair and Associate Dean of Global Education,
College of Education, and University of Oregon.

You don’t get change by plugging in computers to schools designed for the industrial age. You get it by deploying technology that re-writes the rules of the game by centering learning around the learner. If you were designing an American classroom to give our children the skills they need for the best jobs of the 21st century, what would it look like? A typical public school? Or one of Steve Jobs’ Apple stores? Rupert Murdoch Keynote Address to the Foundation for Excellence in Education Summit on October 14, 2011 in San Francisco, California.

This is an interesting provocation by one of our world’s leading business people and made me reflect on what this picture of a 21st century classroom would look like. His comments signify the debate that is about the purpose of education that is to be the centre of political and popular debate in most settings throughout the world.

Technology is at our fingertips but it will only work if it is supported by learning styles, systems and most importantly content, that suits the needs of 21^st century learners. Technology does not only minimise the barriers of distance and time, it opens up new ways to communicate and connect to learning experiences in ways not thought possible. But most importantly, it can make learning an inspired experience. Working closely with organisations such as Apple Australia Education, reflect our acute awareness of the importance of technology to support the learner in the school leadership capability building space. Asynchronous delivery is a key feature of our programs. We have just brought together over 50 school leaders to commence a pilot program ‘Creating Superb School Leadership Teams’, which harnesses the latest in online program delivery to enhance the learners experience and be responsive to 21st Century adult learning. Blogging, online forums and digital stories (including case studies), will be introduced to create a new level of interactivity – supporting and providing depth to program content. The program has been sold out with 50 spaces quickly filled (including our first international participant) and we will deliver a further two programs next year.

I recently presented a piece on Instructional Leadership at the Department of Education’s Turnaround Team Workshop. I entitled this Instructional Leadership: Fad Slogan, Core Activity or just another adjective? Since the 1980s and 90s, interpretation of the term ‘instructional leadership’ has changed. I referenced a recent article entitled “Leading the Instructional Core” written by Richard Elmore. This article highlighted the importance as leaders of being aware of all of the conditional elements within the Core (teachers, content and student) and the interface between them. Learning outcomes are affected when one or more of the elements within the instructional core are changed. Understanding the notion of the instructional core should be a key concern of school leaders accepting the challenges associated with being an educational leader.

John Hattie as keynote speaker at the ACEL conference in Adelaide Learning Landscapes, Strategies for Sustaining change last month, was inspirational. I echo his sentiments around now being the time for the practitioner to take back the agenda and have influence over policy.  John is Director of Research Institute at University of Melbourne (Graduate School of Education). At the conference Jan Alen and I presented the lead paper, exploring a theme I brought forward at a recent PDN conference, around ‘What keeps you awake at night: – The Challenges and Paradoxes of School Leadership’. It was a provocative piece that was well received. 

On the 28 November, in partnership with the Centre for Strategic Education (CSE), QELi will host an important national educational discourse with key stakeholders – including Principals Associations and high level sector representatives. The topic is the Federal Government’s policy on School Autonomy and System Leadership, and will explore the emerging evidence on school autonomy in high performing schools. This is an invitation-only event; however we intend to produce a summary statement for circulation and discussion which will highlight the impact of this policy operationally, financially and strategically. We will ensure the availability of this document as soon as possible following the conference.

Last week we celebrated the first alumni of our Emerging Principals Program, which was an historic milestone for QELi. Queensland Department of Education Director-General, Julie Grantham, presented certificates on behalf of the Minister to graduates, who hailed from all over Queensland – including Mt Isa, Townsville, Cairns, Dalby, Ipswich and Caloundra. Our guest speaker was Brigadier Chris Appleton, who spent 33 years in the Australian Army including service in Iraq. Brigadier Appleton is now Director of War Graves for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Every now and then you get the opportunity to meet someone special, and this was one of those evenings. All in attendance were struck by the humility and wisdom of Brigadier Appleton, and we can’t thank him enough for sharing his leadership journey to our Aspiring Principals – who will be able to take those words as they move forward along their own leadership paths. I have attached a summarised version of Chris’ speech, for your reading pleasure.  

Word-of-mouth (based on excellent feedback) has already seen great take-up for our next Emerging Principal Program Cohort on the 10 January next year. It’s a testament to the quality of the program and we plan to run at least two EPP programs next year. Please visit our website where we’ve posted the journey and experiences of some of our Emerging Principals Program participants across all sectors (thanks to Karen, Gavin, Rhonda and Kevin). www.qeli.com.au/testimonials

This week we have Michael Fullan presenting at a QELi Thought Leaders event. Michael has an exciting and interactive program planned, centered around his concepts of Motion Leadership and how to deal with organisational change. This event was sold out quickly with 155 attendees, so make sure you get in fast to register for our programs to avoid disappointment. Over the next two months we are taking applications for some of our Developmental Programs in early 2012: Emerging Principals from the 10-13 January, Foundations of Coaching on the 28 February and Future Leaders on the 3-4 April. We have already received registrations for the some of these programs with formal marketing to commence next week – so make sure you secure your place soon.

Do more with less. Sounds familiar? Everyday we grapple with paradoxes and tensions that confuse and frustrate us and delivering successful educational outcomes in this environment is a challenge. Such paradoxes were the driver for my keynote speech at a Professional Network Development (PDN) conference from the 25-26 August “The Leadership Tightrope: Balancing Tensions and Intentions”.

“We are asked to live with contradictions and with simultaneous opposites…..To live with simultaneous opposites is, at first glance, a recipe for indecision at best, schizophrenia at worst” (Handy, 1994)

Paradoxes are part of the fabric of life however school leaders need to manage those that affect their ability to lead. I believe that there is no simple either / or solutions to paradoxes and tensions. Think in terms of a both / and approach to decision making. Some of the key ones that that have been identified are: (Leadership Matters – Technical Paper – Cranston N. Ehrich L & Lindsay J -2006):

• respond to both local, and ‘system’ level demands/priorities when they might not always be compatible
• be seen and act as the leader while empowering others for distributed, shared, multiple leadership roles
• drive a future-oriented sustainable vision for schools in discontinuously changing and challenging times while managing the reality of “the now” of schools
• allocate limited resources in effective, efficient and equitable ways to maximise the learning of all students
• continue a professional learning journey, keeping abreast of educational and related developments and trends while managing the significant competing demands on educational leaders.

There are many examples of Principals who are leading well and achieving successful student and school outcomes – despite the complexities and adversity they face. The education sector must focus on the point of difference in their leadership styles and what they are doing right, rather than becoming frustrated by complex issues we are powerless to change.

“The first challenge is to get all school leaders doing what the best leaders already do. Beyond that, the challenge is to develop new approaches to school leadership for the future”. (Geoff Masters CEO, ACER).

Sydney Morning Herald aired another such paradox last week ‘A matter of Principal; Repair Learners or Repair Buildings?

In the article, NSW Executive Director of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta Greg Whitby, commented that the role of principal is becoming more difficult. “What exactly is the role of a principal in an increasing complex and changing world?” he asks.

A 2011 report developed by the Finnish National Education Board (The School of Opportunities – towards every learner’s full potential pg. 15) comments that “Principals are their schools’ pedagogical leaders, developers and networkers…Principals’ job descriptions have been constantly expanding and they feel that there is not enough time for pedagogical management.”

In the Sydney Morning Herald article, retired School Principal Judy King from Riverside Girls High, blames the relentless work hours and the demands of a managerial culture from taking principals away from their first love – improving teaching and learning and says that “teachers don’t want to deal with leaky loos and gutters and be site manager for the BER”.

Principals have always had to deal with the nuances of managing the schools operational, financial and strategic issues alongside delivery of core pedagogy. Historically however, Principals were left to get on with the job without having to justify decisions and actions to a growing number of external stakeholders; both inside and outside the ‘school community’. The role of a Principal in the ‘school community’ is clear and accepted. The Principal’s role in the wider community is not as obvious. However, there is growing expectation from this stakeholder group, and this is where the confusion lies. What’s obvious is that Principals’ need to adapt their skills to effectively manage the interface between school and community.

All professionals to some degree must manage their environment and adapt to technological, social and economic impact. The idea that the leader of an organisation, institute, association or entity has a one-dimensional role is unrealistic. A school principal has never been solely focused on pedagogical functions. Let’s take it from the point of view of a school being an organisation that offers educational services. The organisation head (ie. the CEO) would be responsible for several functional responsibilities, with pedagogical leadership being just one of them.

Within QELi’s Creating Superb School Leadership Teams Program developed in consultation with the Hay Group and Ruth Wagman from Harvard, ‘management’ issues are approached by creating small cohorts of leadership. These cohorts have distinct and absolute responsibility over specific operational and functional issues, freeing up the core leadership team to concentrate on strategic issues. The program guides participants through the distributed leadership process, bringing on board the right leadership team, creating structures, assessing effectiveness and coaching. We are following real case studies in Queensland schools throughout the life of the program and beyond that will evaluate the results of program learning and implementation – which have excellent proven results internationally.

Last week QELi Chair of Board Stephen Paul OAM and I were invited by David Robertson, Executive Director of Independent Schools Queensland (AISQ) to join a Parliamentary Lunch policy forum. It was a great opportunity to demonstrate to the Honourable Minister Cameron Dick and other key stakeholders QELi’s vision for leadership and our unique approach to leadership development. We had exceptional feedback on our progress to date and there was a general feeling of excitement about the potential QELi has to build leadership capacity across all sectors and to contribute to greater student learning outcomes.

Jan Alen and I were also privileged to work with a group of Principals from Tonga last Friday around specific developmental needs. This provided us with a  different perspective and context around school leadership, which we feel is important in helping to inform our programs. In light of that meeting I want to acknowledge the terrible tragedy that occurred at Slacks Creek in Brisbane recently. This is devastating for the families involved and the Tongan community in the region, and we extend our heartfelt sorrow.

Only limited places remain for our next Thought Leaders series with Michael Fullan on Tuesday 8th November. Michael’s dynamic presentation centres around ‘change’ leaders and motion leadership – or how to ‘move’ individuals, institutions, and whole systems forward.

I’d like to welcome on board our new Manager of Programs Lea Gamble who will be working closely with Jan and the team to deliver our suite of programs. Lea has been busy bringing on board over 40 mentors for our ‘Take the Lead’ program and the response has been phenomenal. This is a big commitment we are asking from our mentors but the enthusiastic response we have received has been inspiring.

On a final note, big congratulations to my esteemed colleague Jan Alen, who was delighted to receive an ACEL Queensland Fellowship Award, which she accepted at an awards ceremony last Tuesday night. This is a great honour for Jan and recognises her significant achievement and contribution to the education sector in Queensland and beyond.

I completed my monthly CEO report to the QELi Board this week – which I find is a very satisfying task. It provides me the opportunity to reflect on what we’ve achieved as a team, and the inspiration to continue the outstanding progress.

I’m bouyed by what we’ve achieved in the first half of this year on many levels; building great relationships with our customers and partners, designing and developing quality signature programs and delivering programs across the sectors that potentially will have a real and lasting impact benefit for current and future school leaders. Our recent Emerging Principals Program exemplifies our commitment to developmental programs that are designed to challenge behaviour and practice and support the learning of our participants. The QELi 2011-2012 Prospectus is now available online – please take the time to browse our product offerings.

Last week I facilitated a QASSP two-day retreat on the Gold Coast entitled “Leading the School Improvement Journey”. This was an outstanding success. Professor Geoff Masters and Michael White, CEO of Aus Identities featured, along with guest presenters Emeritus Professor Frank Crowther and Christopher Thomas, Principal Yarra Junction Primary School in Victoria.

I’d like to share some of the feedback:

Congratulations to the team, the growth this will facilitate in my leadership is immeasurable. THANK YOU.

The facilitation and structure of the two days has made this the best professionally challenging and useful PD I have had the opportunity to attend, a fantastic use of my time that will impact long after I return to school. Thank you.

Not often [you] go to a conference/retreat and hear such high quality speakers. Practical and relevant, challenging and inspiring, very much appreciated.

As we go about our partnerships with schools, sectors and associations, one common theme that resonates is the development of future leaders. Schools and associated organisations are slowly taking on a business management model of leadership that has embraced several new capabilities to build on ‘traditional’ leadership skills. Working from this traditional base, the capabilities of future leaders will need to reflect the changing (and complex) social and political landscape. These so called ‘Additional Skills for the future’ as articulated in the Australian Institute of Management’s May edition of Management Today, include fostering of creativity and innovation, understanding sustainability, understanding and harnessing technology and social media, and coaching and mentorship.

Few leaders would naturally embody all of the ‘traditional’ leadership attributes – so this new set of skills for the future creates a whole new challenge. However, as Dr Elizabeth Allworth of consulting firm Allworth Juniper observes, “leadership skills can be learned – although there are those people who have a better base to work from”. To avoid overwhelming individuals and systems, contextualising additional skills through supported programs for future leaders will ensure their successful application.

Last week QELi welcomed Dr Dean Fink from Ontario, Canada to launch our ‘Thought Leaders’ series, in which internationally recognised leaders, writers and researchers share the latest in educational trends and policies to challenge and provoke thought. Dean spoke about succession planning and sustainable leadership, around which he uses an analogy of pipelines, pools and reservoirs. Succession planning builds the kind of capability, capacity and engagement from staff that will have impact on the day to day running of a school, regardless of whether a school will be experiencing turnover in the short term. Next week look out for video footage from the session on the QELi website. Michael Fullan, highly regarded in education circles, will present our second Thought Leaders series on the 8th November.

Regards,

Dr Stephen Brown

QELi achieved another milestone this week, as we completed the first Cohort of our inaugural Emerging Principals program. Being cross-sectorial, this is a unique program, and the first of its kind in Queensland. I was reinvigorated after attending this session – it was inspiring to meet aspirant principals from all over the State (many from North Queensland) devoting their vacation to personal development. It reaffirmed to me the passion and commitment that so many in the teaching field have.

From the feedback received, the program was highly successful for participants. The cross- sectorial element of the program added a new dimension, with one participant commenting “it was so insightful to learn that while our schools, leadership models and positions are different and alike, we face the same challenges, and are all on the leadership journey together”. Another participant said that she “had never felt so supported in her professional career”.  Many thanks to Wendy Graham, our Director of Programs Jan Alen and the QELi team for their wonderful work in developing and facilitating this program.

This is a 4 day developmental program, and just the start of the journey – with the final instalment in October. Between now and then there is work to do for our emerging Principals – essays and journals that will narrate how participants are applying the skills and knowledge gained from the program in real school leadership situations. Throughout the program we hope to bring you some individual stories of our Emerging Principals on our website.  This information will form part of our Impact evaluation of the program. Evaluation is an integral part of program delivery for QELi and we have a robust and formative evaluation process. Evaluation must reflect the program’s positive influence on overall school performance, which relates to a key business objective.

The QELi prospectus details the full range and scope of program delivery, including Quality Assurance and Evaluation methodology. It shows how our programs are built, including the research and ethos behind development and delivery. This is an important document for QELi customer groups, and we plan to get it out to as many people as possible over the coming months. Due out at the end of the month, if you wish to request a copy in advance, please contact info@qeli.qld.edu.au

An article in Sydney Morning Herald online that caught my interest last week detailed the case of a Principal forced out of a school by the Education Department after intense lobbying by a Parent Action Group. I don’t have enough knowledge of the situation so I can’t, nor do I wish to comment on the credibility of the decision. But the point that was made by the NSW Primary Principals Association was that we need to be very careful here with the precedent that is set. The case is interesting as it falls in line with the Federal Government’s move to give greater Authority to school councils and boards in staffing decisions. What we need to ensure is that there remains a fair and judicial framework around these processes, to protect both the rights of teachers and principals as well as parents and other stakeholders.

QELi’s focus this week is on jointly developing a small schools program to deliver on behalf of Department Education. We have assembled a broad respresentative project group that is currently in intense planning. If you come from a small school or have leadership experience in a small school and would like to have input into this program, please let QELi know at info@qeli.qld.edu.au – we would be interested in hearing from you.

We have a small break before our next program, which is our Thought Leaders series with Dean Fink on the 25 July around Sustainable Leadership. Capacity Building and Succession Planning is a key objective in the business plan of most schools, so this presentation from a former member of the one of the world’s most successful systems (the Halton Education Board in Ontario, Canada), is not to be missed.

Take the time to visit our website this week to hear from our Board Director, Steve Paul, Director of Programs Jan Alen and myself about the QELi story. This is a 4 minute digital story and it will give you a feel for the QELi brand and our vision for leadership development in Queensland and beyond.

Regards,

Dr Stephen Brown

The Federal Budget handed down last week ignited conversation around a hot topic in education leadership circles – Principal Autonomy. Over $47 million has been committed over the next 4 years across all school systems to support delivery of the Empowering Local Schools program. This is a significant move welcomed by most in the education sector, however, as with any shift in governance, it comes with a certain degree of trepidation.

Significant research, including a 2007 OECD report suggests that a model that empowers Principals and schools through increased ownership over budget and resourcing, has positive effects on school and student performance. The move is related to potentially allowing Principals and school boards/ councils greater authority to respond to specific school and student needs, to drive spending priorities and influence strategic direction. This is a big change in governance for many schools, so appropriate support to schools and their leadership teams will be key in getting it right. Further information around this model can be found at http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/ReviewofFunding/Pages/default.aspx

A highlight in the QELi diary recently was commencing program planning with Harvard visiting scholar, Ruth Wageman. Ruth, also Research Head of Hay Group, is working with QELi to create an innovative and dynamic School Leadership Team program, which focuses on a key QELi principle around distributed leadership. The program will be a series of online and face-to-face modules delivered over a 6 month period. Ruth has extensive experience and expertise in this field, and we look forward to further building this relationship. The result will be a powerful program that will achieve significant learning outcomes. The program commences this August.

We continue to engage with industry in a variety of forums. I value industry conferences as an opportunity to meet with colleagues and widen my knowledge on issues and research affecting the education sector. Having just spent two days as part of an expert panel at the Coaching Leadership and Learning Conference, I presented some of QELi’s recent work around Coaching and Highly Successful School Leadership. It’s clear the industry faces a collective challenge in building capability around future leaders so we continue to address these issues through evidence-based research and program delivery.   

Next Friday I will meet with the The National College of School Leadership and Children’s Services (UK), who are the first college anywhere in the world dedicated to school leadership. Their business model is well established, and is achieving significant data improvements for schools involved in their programs. We are always interested in partnering with quality organisations such as this, so I look forward to meeting Maggie Farrar next week.

We have also commenced work to support DETA in its delivery of a Small School Leadership program.  This is a niche program and sourcing people with appropriate experience in this environment has been paramount. An expert group has been brought together including representatives from Apple Education, who bring an exciting and innovative element to program delivery.  

Our Emerging Principals program to be delivered in June is now oversubscribed with 41 participants. With such intense interest in the program, we intend to hold a second cohort later this year.

We have just distributed our e-flyer to launch our Thought Leaders series with special Canadian guest, Dr. Dean Fink. Thought Leaders is one of QELi’s signature programs that features internationally recognised leaders discussing education trends and policies that challenge and provoke thought. Dr Fink has presented his work in over 31 countries and in several international journals. Register for this event here.

Yes, and yes, would be my answer!  Leadership development is QELi’s core business, and we are always discussing one aspect of leadership or another. However, recent speaking engagements have had me reflecting on my own leadership journey, and the age old question: are leaders born, or made?

On Saturday 14 May, I was delighted to be invited back to my old Alma Marta – The University of Southern Queensland (USQ)  Fraser Coast Campus, to address the 2011 graduands.  It was a real thrill to feel the buzz of the students, and be taken back to that moment of great anticipation for what lies ahead in their professional (and personal) lives. The enormity of the occasion required me to call upon the great Nelson Mandela;   

“I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.”  

Here’s a little more of my address:

Today is about celebrating that individual and special journey each of you has made. One of the challenges for each of you is to think about the next stage in your learning journey-how you will use and maximise your enhanced knowledge, expertise and qualifications for the benefit of you the individual, the organisations you work for and the communities in which you live.  In the famed Bill Gates view ‘information doesn’t become valuable until it is shared’.  Life challenges each of us to be life- long learners-mastering new ideas, unlearning certain things, gaining new insights and challenging ourselves to set new goals for the next stage of our learning journey. Do not become trapped by the current dogma and thinking of the present-use your capacity and capability as a thinker and an educated person to question, provoke and initiate ideas, concepts and innovations that make a positive contribution to the well -being of individuals and society at large.

Thank-you again to USQ for giving me the opportunity to share such a special occasion in the university’s calendar. I’ve no doubt that all of the USQ graduates were born with the capacity to become great leaders, however, like  Nelson Mandela, this potential will only be realised if they can also show humility of character. Yesterday morning I presented at the PDN (Professional Development Network) Breakfast at the GABBA. A partnership between Griffith and the Centre for continued learning, it provides continuing professional development for educational leaders and aspiring leaders in South-East Queensland.  I discussed the things that matter to me as a leader, and referenced Jim Collins’ description of a leader in Good to Great, which is a leadership style that I subscribe to. The Level 5 leader or executive leader is one who “builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will”. Effective leadership recognises that one person does not make a school, or an organisation. Collaborative, distributed leadership will always achieve more effective results.

QEli is in the process of refining our offering and product suite for 2010-2011, which has been an exciting, albeit difficult process. The first half of this year, myself and Jan (Alen) consumed more coffee than we should annually – there have been so many people to meet and engage with in the industry. On top of formal discussions some of my best meetings have taken place over a flat white (thanks to Five Sisters West End for sponsoring our coffee fix!) It really has been a pleasure to meet people at all levels and across all sectors in the industry; and confirm our common goal of supporting school leaders through leadership capacity building. There has been endless research and industry engagement, numerous discussions and negotiations and a rigid quality assurance process developed around how best we meet the needs of school principals. I’m confident that this is reflected in our product and service offering. We will distribute to all school leaders, a complete list of 2011-2012 programs within the coming months. In the meantime, keep a look out for our regular e-flyers and our website for upcoming programs.  Having just completed ‘The Difference is in the Data’ which achieved subscription just short of 400 across the State, we are excited about how our specific customer groups are responding.

A particular customer group we’re focusing on is small school principalship, which has some very specialised areas of development. We are working with DETA to deliver a 12 month program, which aims to promote and rejuvenate the role of teaching principal as a career. Our Emerging Principals series coming up in June is oversubscribed! We’re running another cohort toward the end of the year, so also look out for upcoming promotional material around that.

Finally, here’s a link to a really interesting survey that has been commissioned in Helsinki concerning continuing education needs of school principals in different countries. Research such as this is integral to inform our practice and share knowledge. For further information or if you are interested in participating in the survey, visit http://www.helsinki.fi/palmenia/english/projects/principals.htm

Welcome QELi friends! QELi has survived our first 100 days, and what a ride it’s been! Sleep has been few and far between; but the fantastic response we have received from school leaders and the wider education industry, has made the hard work worthwhile. We have a great team of people and the potential of this landmark initiative is emerging. We kicked off our inaugural ‘Principal Postcard’ in April with Chris Thomas from Yarra Junction Primary in Melbourne, and the response was fantastic. It was the power of Peer-to-Peer learning at its best, and it’s clear that this series will be of great interest to school leaders at any stage of the learning journey. Dr Lee-Anne Perry from All Hallows’ follows on the 16 June. Dr Perry’s insights around distributed leadership and pushing the boundaries are compelling.  Our Emerging Leaders signature series is already over-subscribed, however it will be offered again at a later stage, so keep your eye out for further information. You can subscribe to receive updates on our Contact Us page.

Last Friday QELi launched our Coaching Approach with a breakfast featuring Chris Wardlaw, whose success coaching top Australian athletes has informed his education leadership style. QELi overwhelmingly supports significant evidence around the link between coaching and highly successful school leadership, which is reflected in our QELi Coaching and Highly Successful School Leadership document. It also mentions the Coaching and Mentoring programs we have available, so please take a look. http://www.qeli.qld.edu.au/professional-mentoring-and-coaching

I’d like to use this forum not just to relate QELi’s view of the world, but to engage with you on activity within the education sector that is affecting leadership, and schools ability to effectively lead. This week…NAPLAN. There’s various schools of thought around this data testing, so QELi has partnered with the best educational data expert in the country  - Dr Judy Smeed of QUT, to deliver a series of programs for school leaders across the State, commencing next week.

The QELi team is very excited to be working with Queensland school leaders across sectors to help build leadership capability and in turn, achieve great results in our schools. Watch this space!